Bears to meet Bulldogs in ‘Delirium in Dietz Stadium’

Tri-Valley disposes of Pine Plains and heads for Class C rematch versus Sullivan West

By RICHARD A. ROSS

GRAHAMSVILLE, NY - You’ve probably heard of the legendary boxing clashes involving Mohammed Ali including “The Thrilla in Manilla” and “The Rumble in the Jungle.”

Now local high school football fans can psych themselves up for a local clash of major proportions in the Class C Title rematch between Tri-Valley and Sullivan West on November 5 billed from here on out as “Delirium in Dietz Stadium.”

After suffering a 21-7 loss to Sullivan West last week, Tri-Valley set its sights on soundly beating its remaining Class C rival Pine Plains and getting back to Dietz Stadium for a hoped-for rematch against the Bulldogs for the Class C title. The principal goal of Tri-Valley’s football program has been and continues to be the reversal of last year’s 34-7 loss and a recapturing of the Class C crown that the Dawgs wrested from them last November.

Following Sullivan West’s 26-13 win over Millbrook on October 27, the Bears kept to their agenda to “win it and get in it,” as they used a mighty Power I offense on a muddy field to run their way to a convincing 32-0 win over the Bombers, thereby avoiding any point differential scenarios that might possibly have left them out in the cold.

The field, which had the look and consistency of chocolate pudding, was an asset to Tri-Valley, who got heavy-duty fullback Ryan VanLieu back in action along with running back Kevin Smith.

For Pine Plains quarterback Jimmy Boyles, who was just coming off of a groin injury, the soggy field was the last thing he wanted to see.

On a dry quick field, Boyles might have done some damage out of the shotgun. But Tri-Valley’s superior line play and deft running backs proved too much for Boyles and company, who also lost running back Matt Bloodgood and Kyle Southern before the 32-0 defeat to Tri-Valley was in the books.

Pine Plains won the toss and elected to defer. Kevin Drown returned Lucas Sisco’s kickoff to midfield. Tri-Valley overcame a fumbled snap and capitalized on an end-around keeper by quarterback Dustin VanLieu and heavy lugs by brother Ryan. The VanLieu show ended the series with a four-yard touchdown (TD) run by Dustin with 9:42 remaining for a 6-0 lead. The PAT was blocked but coach John Rusin shouted “good statement.”

It was the start Rusin was looking for. The Bombers made no headway in the mire and punted. The Bears began their next drive on their own 19. Four plays later, Dustin VanLieu used play action to find Nick Cassidy for a 59-yard touchdown pass with 5:42 to go in the first quarter. The two-point conversion failed and the Bears led 12-0. That score stood up as the first quarter ended.

Pine Plains got no return on the kickoff and could only manage an eight-yard run by Southern before Bloodgood fumbled and Tri-Valley’s Kevin Drown pounced on it at the Pine Plains 35. Brendan Musa used his blockers effectively on a sweep and cut back inside to the Bombers’ 15. The Bears squandered their field position by turning the ball over on downs, but Pine Plains went three-and-out and punted it back.

The Bears went to work from their own 48 and carved out chunks of yardage behind the running of Kyle Byrne, a great cutback run by Musa and a sweep by Dustin Van Lieu to arrive at the Bombers’ 13.

Musa made it 18-0 on a 13-yard run and Byrne added the two-point conversion to make it 20-0 at 5:50 of the second quarter.

The nightmare on skid row continued for the Bombers, who botched a fake punt on their next series by fumbling to give the Bears a short field at the 28-yard line. They made a bad situation worse by having 12 men on the field, an error they would repeat in the second half. Southern left the game after hurting his ankle while breaking up a pass to Cassidy. The Bears made it 26-0 on a four-yard dive by Dustin VanLieu with 1:07 to go in the half. The conversion failed and the Bears took a 26-0 lead into halftime.

Seniors Gabby Skidmore, Melissa Fancher, Monica Lee, James Knapp, Alex Calabrese, Gary North, Kevin Smith, Kyle Byrne, Brendan Walsh, Chistine Seibert and Max Fiedler presented flowers to their parents and to recovering cheerleader Briana Worden at halftime as part of the Homecoming celebration. Worden just returned from Boston Children’s Hospital where she had surgery on her back.

As the second half began, the Bears nearly nixed Pine Plains’ opening drive but a miscue of a Bear touching a punted ball allowed the Bombers to extend their drive to the Bears’ 23. Tri-Valley’s defense closed the door and the Bears got the ball back on downs.

As rain continued to pour, Smith got the crowd to their feet with an electrifying 46-yard run. Pine Plains was penalized for another dozen on the field and recovered a fumble to end the Bears’ continuing onslaught.

Tri-Valley got a nice contribution from young runners Dan Byrne and Jesse Boncek. The latter recorded the day’s last tally with a 30-yard touchdown run with a minute and a half left in the game.

Pine Plains coach Tom Giorgio praised Tri-Valley. “They did a great job today,” he said. Asked about the field conditions and how things might have been different on a dry field, Giorgio didn’t make any excuses. “You never know,” he concluded.

Rusin complimented his team on an outstanding job. “You’re one win away from a state tournament berth,” he told the muddy Bears. “We need a great week of practice and hopefully we can show what we’re capable of next week. This was your best overall effort of the season,” Rusin assured his team.

Musa carried the ball six times for 54 yards and one touchdown. Other rushing stats were:

Kevin Smith, 6 carries for 87 yards; Kyle Byrne, 7-for-51; Ryan VanLieu, 6-for-31; Jesse Boncek, two-for-30 and one TD; Dan Byrne, four-for-19; Sean Drown, three-for-eight and Dustin VanLieu, five-for-34 with two TD’s.

VanLieu completed one of three passes for 59 yards and a TD to Nick Cassidy.

Tri-Valley (6-3, 2-1 Class C) will face Sullivan West 5-4 (3-0 Class C) at 4:00 p.m. on November 5 at Dietz Stadium for the Class C title.

Visit riverreportersports.com for an album of game photos.